Registration for Spring 2010 continues at TAMIU

The coming holidays and the promise of a New Year brings the chance to renew, retool and reinvigorate with classes at Texas A&M International University.

Registration for the Spring 2011 Semester is now available at http://schedule.tamiu.edu/

Classes will begin Tuesday, Jan. 18. The final late registration day is Jan. 24.

Visit the Offices of the Registrar at the University Success Center, Suite 121 or call (956) 326-2250.

Office hours are from 8 a.m-5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fridays.

Miller ready for new role as VP for instruction at LCC

Fueled by a longstanding passion to help improve lives, Dianna L. Miller, Ph.D., hopes to make a bigger impact in the lives of college students in her new role as the vice president for instruction at Laredo Community College.

A veteran nursing educator and college administrator with 18 years of service at LCC, Miller emerged as the top candidate for the job after the college conducted an extensive national search to fill the VPI position.

"Laredo Community College is very pleased to have Dr. Miller assume the role of vice president for instruction," LCC President Juan L. Maldonado said. "She has served on an interim basis this fall semester, and she has proven she is well organized, very professional and task oriented. She exhibits the qualities that will lead to the continued success of the college's Instructional Division."

He added, "Of four candidates who initially applied for the position, Dr. Miller was the sole candidate to advance to a formal interview, and the search committee was unanimous in "

Miller, who possesses a wealth of experience as a nursing practitioner, educator, and administrator, said that she is honored by the opportunity to continue serving LCC in her new capacity.

"Health care and specifically nursing has been my passion since I was young," Miller said. "As I moved into nursing education I realized I was making a difference in the lives of others on a larger scale. In nursing practice, I directly influenced the lives of my clients whose care I was responsible for. In nursing education, I could affect many students who in turn affected the lives of their clients.

"All of the nursing and administration experiences have provided me the foundation to pursue the VPI position. My motivation for pursuing this position was based on recognizing I had developed a specific skill set which consists of education and experience, and I felt that I could make a larger contribution to Laredo Community College by serving in this role."

As the vice president for instruction, Miller said she will strive to provide effective leadership by increasing communication and by being a transparent leader. She hopes to meet the college's challenges of increasing student enrollments through creative restructuring of course offerings, and addressing decreasing state budgets with minimal detrimental impact to the college's mission and goals.

"As the vice president for instruction, I need to focus on the best direction and decisions for the institution, while balancing the needs of those who work at the college and the students who attend it. The VPI must provide leadership and represent LCC in the local community, as well as on a larger state and national perspective," Miller said.

Miller has served a notable tenure at LCC, including 13 years as a faculty member for the vocational and associate degree nursing programs, six years as the chair for the Associate Degree Nursing Department and seven years as the Dean of Health Sciences, which included the task of being directly responsible for the success of the college’s nursing programs. Most recently, she has served as the Interim Vice President for Instruction.

"I am proud to be part of the LCC family and look forward to many more years," Miller said. "LCC has quality people who care about providing the best educational experiences for students in various settings. The college is intensely student success oriented, with people who care about each other and are willing to go above and beyond their job descriptions to assist others."

Miller holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction, which she earned in 2009 from the University of Phoenix.

She also holds Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing.

'Holiday' Noche Romantica set for Wednesday

The sweet and romantic sounds will be heard just in time for the holidays as Laredo Community College's Spanish Traditional Group performs during the 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert.

The annual music concert will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 p.m. in LCC's Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater.

Admission is free and open to the public.

More than a dozen members from the LCC Spanish Traditional Group will perform Spanish and Christmas music.

"For 20 years now, we've been going strong with the LCC Spanish Traditional Group, and we're excited to bring this concert to the community to show our passion for this type of music," said Ruben Vargas, the group's music director.

The Noche Romantica program at LCC began in 1990 and is still going strong.

"When we started this group, we knew there were people interested in keeping Spanish music alive. And now, we have more than a hundred former members out there, and we invite them to come this 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert," Vargas added.

Some of the selections for the Noche Romantica concert include, "Odiame," "El Milagro de tus Ojos," "Dejame Vivir," and "Feliz Navidad."

For more information on the 20th Anniversary Noche Romantica concert, contact the LCC Performing Arts Department at (956) 721-5330 or email Ruben Vargas at ruben.vargas@laredo.edu.

UISD readies for fifth annual parent festival

The United Independent School District cordially invites all UISD parents and their children to join them at the fifth annual parent festival set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, at United High School (main campus), 2811 United Avenue, off of Bob Bullock Loop. The is event aimed at increasing parental involvement, and working together with district administrators and educators, as a crucial component to the academic success of students.

This year's event includes a wide range of sessions for parents that will equip them with knowledge and skills they can use with their child throughout their time in school. These sessions include: Fun with Math, What is Autism?, Homework Helpers, Make and Take Activities for Reading, Internet Safety, Hands-On Grammar and Vocabulary and more. There will also be activity camps available for children of all ages that range from dance, sports, arts and crafts, music, and much more.

Additionally, the event will feature guest speaker Simon Silva, who was a migrant farm worker as a student; and now speaks about those experiences through his popular art and books. His presentation at the festival will be titled "Culture, Creativity, & Art: A Source of Opportunity."

"This event has become a great tradition for UISD," said Superintendent Roberto J. Santos commenting on the many families he sees and at the event year after year. "We hope to see even more mothers, fathers, guardians and students at this year's event. As a unified force, that is our parents/guardians and District educators working together, we can help our students to be even more successful and prepare them for the global society we now live in," he emphasized.

Coordinated through the Office of Federal and State Compensatory Programs, with the assistance of a Districtwide Steering Committee, the Annual Parent Festival will also feature over 65 community organizations who will be on hand to give information on their respective programs and services. There will also be many door prizes given away to event participates. One of the main door prizes includes a laptop computer donated from Safari Kids Rehab.

"Parents involved in the education of their children provide an overall stronger foundation for their student," said Estela De La Garza, UISD parental involvement coordinator. "Our hope is that more parents realize this and make plans to attend this event. The event is also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your children, as well," she continued.

For more information about UISD's fifth annual parent festival, call the Office of Parental Involvement at (956) 473-6452.

UISD receives TEA's highest fiscal accolade for eighth consecutive year

United Independent School District (UISD) is once again proud to receive its' eighth-consecutive award of "Superior Achievement" by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under the First Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2009-10 school year. The rating, which is the state agency's highest honor, is given to Texas public school districts, who are accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and resources. UISD has continued to receive this coveted honor since the inception of the program in 2001-02.

"I would like to congratulate our Business/Finance Department for garnering this outstanding achievement for the eighth-consecutive time," said UISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. "This award reflects how UISD understands the importance of fiscal accountability to our tax payers. It reflects the steps we take to achieve the most cost effective and efficient results, as we provide all of our students with a quality, first rate educational program they deserve," added Santos.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Laida P. Benavides agreed, adding that ensuring "a sound financial position for UISD, that is accountable to the taxpayers, and the community at large, will always be our goal."

The FIRST program mandates that school districts hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report which explains the District's rating and its performance under each of the FIRST fiscal indicators for the current and prior school year. A presentation on this was made on October 20, at the Student Activity Complex (see board agenda hyperlink at https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicMeetingMaterials.aspx?ak=240903&mk=50013472).

For more information about the District's FIRST "Superior Achievement" rating, contact the Business and Finance Department main number at (956) 473-6222.

Cigarroa students earn National Hispanic Scholar Recognition

Caption: CHS administration congratulate Brandon Romero and Enrique Alvarez on their NHRP recognition. Pictured left to right are Rogelio Garcia, CHS counselor; Brandon Romero; Enrique Alvarez; Cynthia Davila, CHS counselor; and John Eric Salinas, CHS principal.

Two seniors at Cigarroa High School have been recognized by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program. Cigarroa High School is proud to announce Enrique Alvarez and Brandon Romero as this year's scholars.

Alvarez and Romero were among nearly 5,000 students selected from a pool of over 200,000 students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and identified themselves as Hispanic/Latino. To qualify for the program, a student must be at least one-quarter Hispanic, have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher, and meet their state's cutoff scores on their critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills on the PSAT/NMSQT.

Cigarroa High School students, faculty, staff, and administration congratulate these two young students. "Brandon and Enrique are fine representatives of Cigarroa High School and LISD," said Cynthia Davila, Cigarroa High School Counselor. "They are fine young men who continually demonstrate academic excellence, belong to numerous organizations, have vision and ambition for themselves and are multi-talented."

Alvarez is the son of Enrique and Xochitl Alvarez. Enrique plans to pursue a degree in English at Texas State University. Alvarez's academic achievement's includes National Honor Society and perfect attendance. Enrique is also a member of the Cigarroa High Power Lifting team. He attended Cigarroa Middle School and Ligarde Elementary School.

Brandon is the son of Israel and San Juana Romero. He is interested in pursuing a degree in Political Science from Williams College in Williamstown Massachusetts. Romero's academic achievement's includes Honor Roll, National Honor Society, and is ranked third in his class. Brandon's extra-curricular activities include Orchestra, VMT Government Club, VMT Senior Class President. Romero attended Zachry Elementary School.

According to Davila, taking the PSAT/NMSQT Test as juniors allows students to see for themselves where they rate academically in comparison to other juniors all over this state and country. For some, like Brandon & Enrique who achieve national standing, it is the time to make final selections of colleges or universities as being a National Hispanic Scholar opens the door to many opportunities. Taking a test like the PSAT is the first important step in planning for the future.

Both Enrique and Brandon expressed their excitement about the recognition.

"It's a good honor. Receiving this recognition has helped colleges contact us," Romero said. "It has opened my eyes. I am now more aware of the application process."

Enrique Ramirez honored as 'Youth of The Month' by Border Patrol and local sponsors

Caption: Pictured, from left to right, are Enrique Benavides, his mother Marta L. Ramirez, and Roberto J. Santos, UISD Superintendent

Enrique Ramirez, a senior at Lyndon B. Johnson High School, has been named October's "Youth of The Month."

Ramirez describes himself as ambitious and driven to succeed in everything he does. His exemplary grades are evidence of his dedication to his education, and his hours of service to our community through various clubs and organizations demonstrates that he is committed to serving others. Ramirez is currently ranked first in his class with a grade point average of 101.2.

Nominating educator Brenda Cognata said she is amazed by Ramirez's passion to succeed in every aspect of his life.

"Enrique is an example of a hard worker who is determined to achieve his goals. He has also managed to maintain an outstanding academic record while contributing much of his spare time to his community. He always has an uplifting attitude towards life."

Ramirez plans to attend Harvard University to pursue a bachelor's degree in science and a medical degree in the field of otorhinolaryngology.

Youth of The Month is sponsored in part by the US Border Patrol, H-E-B, A&E Office Products, Best Buy, KGNS-TV, Rock Fitness Center, IBC, Royal Laser Wash, McDonald's, and the Public Access Channel.

National journal nominates Centeno librarian for award

Analine Johnson, librarian for Centeno Elementary School, was recognized by the School Library Journal (SLJ), during their first ever Book Trailee Awards. The journal is the largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens. Most recently, the SLJ reviewed book trailers that motivate students to read and those who create them. Four out of twenty-four nominated videos were Johnson's. Two were nominated in the "adult created for elementary category" ("14 Cows for America" by Carmen Agra Deedy and "Home of the Brave" by Katherine Applegate), and two were nominated for the "adult created for the secondary category" ("All the Lovely Bad Ones" by Mary Downing Hahn, and "The Darkness Under the Water" by Beth Kannell). The SLJ recognitions are a first for a UISD Librarian.

Sandra Benavides, director of Professional and Staff Development, Library Science, and Special Projects said, "We are all so proud of Johnson's dedicated efforts to continually promote reading."

LCC and TG announce statewide financial aid call center

Caption: Wednesday, Oct. 27, Laredo Community College, Generation TX, and TG launched a statewide multimedia public service announcement at LCC's Fort McIntosh Campus' Kazen College Center to promote the Texas Financial Aid Information Center. The bilingual toll-free call center helps parents and students with Texas college admissions process and assists them to understand and apply for federal and state financial aid. Pictured, during the Laredo campaign promotion, are Judith Zaffirini, state senator and chair of the Texas Senate Higher Education Committee, and Juan Maldonado, LCC president. Local television, print, radio, and web media will begin the public service announcements by the end of October.

UHS graduate organizes fundraiser

Friday, Oct. 8, former United High School student Teresa N. Jarrell spearheaded a mini-fundraiser to benefit breast cancer survivors. Jarrell began by purchasing a spool of pink ribbon to make decorative bows. She then asked UHS band members to donate whatever they could. In turn, they would receive a bow that they could wear on their uniform during the UHS/Nixon football game. A total of $267.03 was raised, and all proceeds will be donated to Mercy Ministries. Jarrell is a mentor and band tech with the United High School Longhorn Band (percussion section). She is also a former band member and graduate of UHS.

Alexander High School Bulldog band advances to finals in San Antonio

Caption: AHS Bulldog Band Assistant Band Director Christopher Lumsford pays off a bet by getting his haircut. Student Arturo Cabello does the honors in front of AHS Bulldog Band members.

The Mighty Alexander High School Bulldog Band lived up to its moniker when it emerged with a top ten win during the UIL 5-A marching contest held this past weekend in McAllen, Texas.

The band competed against 37 other high school bands from throughout the state. It was during the competition that AHS Assistant Band Director Christopher Lumsford promised to have his hair sheared should they win and advance to marching band area finals. Lumsford paid his"bet debt" when the band accomplished the proposed goal.

The band will compete in UIL area finals on Nov. 2 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Performance time will be at 8 a.m. AHS band Director Jose Valenzuela said he is very proud of his students because they have worked hard.

Valenzuela added that he has always taught them that "anything is possible when focus and dedication are applied to the task at hand."

He added, "It's been 11 years since any local high school band advanced to the area finals. This is the first time that an AHS band has advanced to compete in such a prestigious competition. We will be competing against 35 other bands from around the state. It will be a great challenge for all of us, and I know our students will make us proud."

Cuellar Elementary Red Ribbon presentation delights students

Caption: Cuellar Elementary School welcomed Sheriff Martin Cuellar and staff to their Red Ribbon celebration. Cuellar brought San Antonio ventriloquist Nacho Estrada along to help officers spread the word about staying away from drugs and gangs. Estrada used his puppets and voice throwing skills to stress the importance of showing respect for others, manners, going to school and staying out of trouble.

Pictured, from left to right, are Jesse Gonzalez, Webb County deputy; Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff; Nacho Estrada, professional ventriloquist; Lt. Rudy Valdez, Webb County Sheriff's Office.

Trautmann Elementary School to receive another accolade

Trautmann Elementary School, home of the Mighty Texans, has another award to add to their list for the 2010-11 school year. After recently being named a "National Blue Ribbon School" by the U.S. Department of Education, the campus has also made the Texas Business and Education Coalition's (TBEC) Honor Roll. Of the more than 8,000 public schools in the state, less than 4 percent receive this honor.

"On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of Trautmann Elementary School," said United Independent School District Superintendent Roberto J. Santos. "I would also like to congratulate the parents. Their involvement in their child's education will continue to place them on the path to success."

The TBEC Honor Roll is considered the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence in Texas. It recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent, high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations. TBEC Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state's most rigorous standard-commended-in every subject.

TBEC will recognize all the Honor Roll Schools on Monday, Nov. 15, at an Awards Reception and Dinner in Austin sponsored by H-E-B. TBEC will also host a series of seminars where school representatives will have the opportunity to learn about new educational programs for their campus and the District.

Located at 810 Lindenwood Drive, Trautmann is home to about 800 students and 80 faculty and staff members. The proud principal is Cynthia Rodriguez.

Fifth annual International Chamber Music Festival at TAMIU

Take a musical journey at the Texas A&M International University International Chamber Music Festival Friday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Now in its fifth year, the Music Festival includes performances by the University College of Arts and Sciences Department of Fine and Performing Arts faculty and guest artists.

TAMIU faculty include: Dr. Susan Berdahl, flute, associate professor of flute and musicology; Dr. David Garcia, clarinet, director of bands; Dr. Friedrich Gechter, piano, associate professor, music and piano; Jerry Quintero, piano, visiting instructor of music and director of mariachi; Dr. Yu-Mei Huang, piano, assistant professor of music and strings; Suzanne Ramo, soprano, adjunct instructor of music/voice; and Dr. Gilberto Soto, guitar, professor of music and guitar and TAMIU Guitar Ensemble director.

Guest artist: Dr. Xiaohu Zhou, director, La-ReDo Music Academy and Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra bassoonist; Joe Guerra, drums; Robert Lopez, trumpet; Dr. Kevin Linberg, bass; Ric Cortez, guitar and Stringendo String Quintet—Melissa Treviño, violin; Alma Vazquez, violin; Justin Balli, cello; Jesus Jimenez, cello; Philip Balli, bass.

The evening's program includes music written by Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Dizzie Gillespie, George Gershwin and a special arrangement of popular hit music by Dr. Soto.

For more information, contact Huang at 326-2664 or yhuang@tamiu.edu or visit offices in CFPA 208B.

University office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

LCC is reaffirmed for accreditation by SACS

Every facet of Laredo Community College, including its courses, degrees and services, has again met the rigorous standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which has granted LCC full reaffirmation for accreditation for another 10-year period.

As a nationally accredited institution, LCC guarantees current and future students, that in addition to its affordable tuition, they can expect their courses to meet the same quality standards as those offered by colleges and universities throughout the state and nation.

In a letter to LCC President Juan L. Maldonado, SACS accepted a series of reports prepared by the college as part of the reaffirmation process and informed him that LCC was fully reaffirmed for accreditation through the year 2020.

"Laredo Community College is extremely proud and pleased to receive reaffirmation without any conditions from SACS," Maldonado said. "This accomplishment is a testament to the excellence of our institution, its students and its personnel."

LCC boasts a long and distinguished history of being accredited by SACS since 1957. Member institutions must seek reaffirmation for accreditation every 10 years.

Maldonado explained that the reaffirmation process took about 18 months to complete. In addition to the reports submitted to SACS for review and approval, LCC received an official site visit by a review team as part of the process.

"The process was detailed, comprehensive and intensive research focusing on what LCC is doing and how well it meets the standards for accreditation set by SACS, as well as how LCC meets its mission and goals as a community college," Maldonado said.

He added that the achievement could have not have been realized without the full cooperation of the campus body and community.

"The process to getting reaffirmed was really a special collaboration involving every single unit of LCC. We received valuable input and assistance from a great number of personnel representing the entire spectrum of the college community, the board of trustees and the community at large," Maldonado noted.

Maldonado added that institutional effectiveness is an area that needed to be addressed by the college.

"LCC has developed the necessary strategy by adding personnel and funding to make sure that institutional effectiveness is being addressed at LCC," Maldonado said.

LCC will submit one-year and five-year follow-up reports as part of the new reaffirmation process set by SACS.

Accreditation is an integral component for any higher education institution because it provides college students with a smooth transition to other higher education institutions or professional practice.

"As institutions of higher education, it is imperative to preserve their accreditation status. Students who go to an accredited college or university can easily transfer their credits within the state or out of the state knowing that their transcripts reflect standards and quality that are met by that institution and its students," Maldonado said.

Established in 1895 in Atlanta, SACS is a private, non-profit, voluntary organization which accredits more than 12,000 public and private educational institutions, from pre-kindergarten to university level, in 11 states of the Southeastern U.S. and Latin America.

The Association's Commission on Colleges develops standards for, and accredits post-secondary degree-granting institutions.

Laredo students invited to apply for Sister City program

If you attend a Laredo high school and also want to learn more about a unique cultural exchange, develop peer relationships, and study about - and visit - other cities around the world, among other activities, then you should consider applying for the City of Laredo's Sister City's Youth Committee.

But hurry, the deadline is right around the corner! Applications must be signed by your high school counselor and turned in before 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24.

Students who were on this year's committee recently returned from New Mexico and New Zealand to participate in the Sister Cities Youth Global Conference and Student Exchange Program, where they not only developed practical approaches to real life global issues, but also, lasting friendships with people of various cultures.

"It's amazing to me to see how the students who belong to the Sister Cities Committee just seem to gain a maturity and understanding about the world in such a short amount of time," said Councilman Hector Garcia, Dist. II, who is one of the chief supporters of the program. "We are so proud to have them be our ambassadors of Laredo to the world; they are true diplomats, and this committee really helps give them that experience."

In 2005, the Laredo City Council established the Youth Program for students interested in promoting goodwill and understanding between the City of Laredo and its Sister Cities. The goal of the City of Laredo Sister City Youth Committee is to make a significant contribution to global peace by allowing Laredo's youth to partake in an experience that will influence their personal lives as they develop into adults

If selected, the student will be in the program for two years. Students are required to have a benevolent project where they assist one of Laredo's Sister Cities with school supplies, clothing, shoes, new blankets or health aids. Additionally, the help host the annual International Sister Cities Youth Festival in January, inviting youth from various sister cities to come see what life is like for a typical American teenager – on the border. Other projects include assisting in various City of Laredo functions and events and taking an active role in taking care of Laredo's environment, by either recycling or planting trees.

Now in its sixth year, previous committees have also participated in community service projects throughout the year, such as clean-up campaigns with Keep Laredo Beautiful; visiting, singing and pet sharing with the elderly at the nursing homes; volunteering with the ALS Walk or WBCA events; the annual Holiday Bowl and Kite Festival or any other project where people in the community call and need assistance.

The committee is comprised of juniors and seniors from each public and private high school in the City of Laredo. Applicants are selected based on the following criteria: counselor recommendation, leadership potential, hobbies, ability to communicate, community awareness, knowledge of host cities, poise, personality, sincerity, sense of humor, interest in world peace and understanding, dedication to the program.

Interested youth must be in their junior year of high school and can obtain an application from their high school counselor, calling the City Secretary's Office at 791-7308 or by downloading the application from the City of Laredo's website at: www.cityoflaredo.com/SisterCities/Youth Program/09-10/YCIndex.htm

LCC nets $3K state grant for loss prevention

Caption: For the sixth year in a row, Laredo Community College has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Texas Association of School Board's Risk Management Fund. College administration met a TASB official for the presentation of the grant. They are, from left, LCC safety and risk manager Richard Gillard, TASB senior loss prevention consultant Heriberto Casarez, LCC President Juan L. Maldonado and Human Resources Director Lee Spain.
A loss prevention grant of $3,000 has been awarded to Laredo Community College for the sixth straight year from the Risk Management Fund of the Texas Association of School Boards.

LCC was one of only five community colleges in the state to receive this grant. The funds will be used to enhance the college's loss prevention and safety awareness initiatives to help reduce the potential for property losses and on-the-job injuries.

LCC President Juan L. Maldonado said the college is pleased to have received the competitive grant, which reinforces the institution's commitment to saving valuable local resources and increasing productivity in the workplace.

"A working environment that promotes employee safety and loss prevention can only raise the level of productivity," Maldonado said. "Laredo Community College is proud to be part of a select group of higher educational institutions in the state that has procedures in place to meet the standards for a healthier workforce and a safer workplace. We appreciate the support of TASB, which will help LCC advance its loss prevention and safety initiatives."

This year's grants were awarded to 186 school districts, three regional education service centers, three county appraisal districts, five community colleges, and three shared service arrangements.

"The safety and well being of all employees and prevention of losses are crucial issues in the workplace. The Fund is dedicated to partnering with its members to save valuable resources and do everything we can to help educate staff to provide for a healthier work force and create a safer work environment," said TASB loss prevention services director Edwin Thompson.

The TASB Risk Management Fund is a self-insurance pool that has been in existence since 1974 and provides workers' compensation, property, liability, and unemployment compensation coverage to more than 1,100 members.

LCC continues to boost healthcare with nursing grads

Caption: Summer 2010 graduates of the Laredo Community College Vocational Nursing Program are pictured with faculty members at the traditional pinning ceremony Thursday, Aug. 5, at the Kazen College Center.

The future of Laredo's healthcare system looks brighter than ever as 40 vocational nursing students graduated Thursday, Aug. 5, from the one-year nursing program at Laredo Community College.

A traditional pinning ceremony to recognize graduates of the Vocational Nursing (VN) program was held in the Kazen College Center.

As part of the ceremony, graduates lit candles and recited the health professional covenant after receiving their nursing pins.

"Laredo Community College is proud to serve as the largest trainer for nursing professionals in Laredo," LCC Interim Vice President for Instruction Dianna Miller said. "More than 230 students are annually trained through LCC's nursing programs."

"Their accomplishment reaffirms the college's commitment to produce highly skilled providers of care for the benefit of the region," she added.

LCC also offers a two-year Associate Degree Nursing program and a semester-long Nursing Assistant Program.

Graduates of the summer 2010 VN class included Maribel Acevedo, Sandra Alfaro, Abigail Arriaga, Erica L. Blake, Jeanette D. Botello, Aaron A. Campos, Ricardo Chavez, Nydia Cisneros, Priscilla Davila, Luis R. Erazo, Rosa Espinoza, Diana Garcia, Donnath S. Garza, Eva Garza, Ida A. Garza, Genniel T. Gatchalian, Cristina Y. Gomez, Cristina E. Gonzales, Stephany Gonzalez, Karina J. Gutierrez, Silvia A. Hernandez, Gloria A. Herrera, Veronica J. Kadrich, Viviana Lopez, Vanessa M. Lozano, Veronica Mendez, Carlos Molina Jr., Ysenia A. Moreno, Izamar Nava, Jessica E. Piñeda, Lindsay M. Rodriguez, Lisa M. Rodriguez, Diana Serna, Melina L. Thatcher, San Juanita Urena, Kimberly Varela, Elsie Vasquez, Nancy Villarreal, Sara A. White, and Martha Zaragoza.

Highlights of the nursing ceremony included a special message from student speaker Ida Garza.

Student achievement was recognized with the presentation of the Merit Award to Ysenia Moreno and the Mary Alice Lopez award to Ida Garza.

The VN Program at LCC is a clinically intensive one-year certificate program which offers classroom instruction and valuable clinical practice in four basic areas of nursing, including fundamentals, medical/surgical, maternity/pediatric, and psychiatric.

Upon graduation, the vocational nursing student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

The VN program is fully accredited by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.

For more information, call the Vocational Nursing Program at 721-5255.

International vocal artist to give free master class at LCC

Caption: Jason Ferrante, an acclaimed international American tenor, will hold his first-ever master class on the Laredo Community College campus next week.

Jason Ferrante, an acclaimed American tenor who has performed on five continents, will make at pit stop at Laredo Community College for his first-ever public master class on campus.

The master class will be held on Monday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. in the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center, room 102, located on the Fort McIntosh Campus. A question and answer session also will be held later that evening in the same location at 7 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Ferrante has quickly become recognized as one of the leading character singers of his generation.

Recent highlights include his debut at the New York City Opera as King Ouf in "L' etoile," Basilio in "Le Nozze di Figaro," and a return to Italy as Beadle in "Sweeney Todd" at Teatro Comunale di Bologna.

Opera News has praised Ferrante for "singing up a stylish storm," and for getting "the gold star for trills." PBS and National Public Radio also have featured Ferrante on its television and radio programming, respectively.

As a graduate of New York City's Juilliard School, one of the world's most prestigious performing arts conservatories, Ferrante sings comedians and protagonists on the operatic stage. In concerts, Ferrante performs from a wide range of composers from Bach and Handel to John Musto and Lowell Liebermann.

Ferrante has frequently performed the role of Goro in "Madame Butterfly," Beadle in "Sweeney Todd," and as Tybalt in "Romeo et Juliette."

In May 2010, Ferrante traveled to Guangzhou, China to sing as Pong in "Turandot" under the baton of Lorin Maazel to open the new Guangzhou Opera House.

Ferrante holds a bachelor's and master's degree in music from the Juilliard School. In addition to maintaining a busy performing career, the Baltimore native currently resides in Miami where he serves as a voice and opera faculty member in the New World School of Arts.

For more information about master class or question and answer session, contact the LCC Performing Arts Department at 721-5330 or email suzanne.ramo@laredo.edu.

Explore the 'wild side' of LCC’s science center Saturday

Caption: Laredo Community College student Gabriel Ortega and lab technician Arianna Gonzalez hold a baby alligator located in the living laboratory of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center at Laredo Community College.

The first Saturday of the month, Sept. 4, is the perfect opportunity to go wild at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center at Laredo Community College.

Located on the north side of the Fort McIntosh Campus, the environmental science center now features a new Natural History Exhibit Hall, which the public may view during a self-guided tour of the center's facilities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The natural history wing is a multi-purpose classroom hall that was built with continuing support from the Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust to benefit students of all grade levels and nature lovers from the community.

"This addition is of great benefit to the center because it's allowing us to expand our exhibit space for the community to enjoy," center director Tom Miller said. "As the development of the exhibit hall continues, the center will be able to offer greater interaction, including special themed exhibitions throughout the year."

Some of the specimens currently located in the hall include a mounted porcupine, an American alligator and a black bear.

There also are some fossils found locally, including one of a mastodon jaw, and a collection of insects assembled in the 1960s.

Of course, some of the center's most popular residents will be waiting to welcome visitors, including the center's American alligators, bobcat, raccoon, coatimundi, fox, javelina, and an assortment of ducks, turtles and fish.

The center also features a group of young alligators.

Around 11 a.m., visitors will be able to feed some of the center's residents.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens. The center is free and open to LCC and TAMIU students, faculty and staff with a valid college ID card.

Prior to the tours, the center will officially launch the day with its monthly trail work project from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Volunteers from the community are invited to lend a helping hand. Tools, gloves and water will be available to those who help during the work day.

For more information, call the center at 764-5701.

LISD's De La Vina to be honored

Hugo De La Vina, assistant principal of F.S. Lara Academy with the Laredo Independent School District, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as the Region One Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year.

TASSP recognizes outstanding principals and assistant principals from the 20 region Education Service Centers in the state. School administrators are nominated and chosen by their peers within their regions. Nominations are based upon exemplary performance and outstanding leadership. As a region one winner, De La Vina is eligible to compete for the state title of the Texas Assistant Principal of the Year.

De La Vina, a 10-year assistant principal and 1975 J.W. Nixon High School graduate, has been a member of the Leadership Team at Lara Academy since 1999. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry degree. He attended Texas A&M International University and was awarded a Masters of Education in administration.

De La Vina, who is a true advocate of education, stated, "All children can learn if given the opportunity and support from their schools."

De La Vina also believes that all students deserve special attention, care and love from their educators.

Each region winner will be recognized during the Texas Heroes Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Each will be presented with an award and recognized in a commemorative booklet entitled Texas Principals, Texas Heroes. The TASSP summer workshop will be held June 15 -17, 2011, at the Austin Convention Center.

Student art work to go on display next week

Caption: "Untitled" is a weight scale sculpture made out of glass, marbles and wire by Denise Rodriguez.

Approximately 60 hand-selected works of art will be on display during the Laredo Community College Semi-Annual Art Student Exhibition next week.

An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the LCC Art Teaching Gallery located on the Fort McIntosh Campus. Admission is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served during the reception.

"This will be the time our students will showcase their art to the public," said Dale Short, LCC Art Department chair."We'll be featuring various media of art works that our students produced in the spring semester."

"These types of student art exhibits validate our students' efforts to be creative and showcase their art to their families, friends and fellow colleagues," Short added. "Not only does the exhibit reflect the students' talent, but also the teaching strengths from our art instructors."

This year, various art forms will be on display, including drawings, paintings, two- and three-dimensional art, photography, digital art, print making, art metals, ceramics and several sculptures.

Short added that these types of shows are very popular with the community.

"In the past several shows, we've seen as many as 500 members from Laredo and surrounding areas join us during the opening reception," Short said. "This will be another great exhibit."

Each art work will display the student's name, type of art medium used and major.

The art exhibit will be on display at the gallery until Sept. 23. Viewing hours are from Monday through Thursday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information about the LCC Art Student Semi-Annual Art Exhibit, contact the LCC Art Department at 721-5224.

Late registration continues at TAMIU through Aug. 27

Students wishing to register late for Fall at Texas A&M International University can still do so through Aug. 27.

Late registration can be done by visiting the Office of the Registrar located in the University Success Center, room 121, said Oscar Reyna, University Registrar.

Fall Semester classes began Aug. 23 and will continue through Dec. 11.

For more information on TAMIU's late registration, contact the TAMIU Office of the Registrar at 326-2250 or visit offices located in University Success Center, room 121.

Registrar office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

LCC staffer chosen as USDA fellow

A staff member at Laredo Community College was one of only a few people chosen from across the country to receive a federal fellowship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that focuses on colleges with Hispanic-oriented programs.

Rosario J. Martinez, a USDA grant administrator, was one of six participants from Texas to be chosen for the E. (Kika) de la Garza Fellowship program.

Earlier this summer, the fellows spent a few weeks in Washington, D.C., as they learned the various divisions within the USDA as well as career options for high school and college students.

The program works to improve the skills and preparation of Hispanic students.

Only those who work at a Hispanic-serving institution were allowed to apply for the fellowship, which is run by the USDA's Hispanic Serving Institutions National Program.

"During the fellowship program, a heavily discussed topic was that many Hispanic students are not aware of the magnitude of resources available to them," Martinez said. "There are many grants, scholarships, internships and job opportunities out there readily available for students, especially in our area."

The 13th class of the De la Garza Fellowship consisted of 20 members from three categories, including high school, science, and education fellows.

This is the second year an LCC employee has been chosen for the USDA fellowship program.

For more information on local USDA internships, scholarships, or job opportunities, contact Rosario J. Martinez at 721-5893.

Ramirez named Vice President for Student Success

Minita Ramirez, previously dean of Student Success at Texas A&M International University, has been named Vice President for Student Success.

Ramirez's appointment was approved by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents at their July Board meeting. Her position becomes effective Sept. 1.

In her new position, Ramirez will oversee operation of the newly opened, $25 million University Success Center and units including Admissions, Financial Aid, Recreational Sports, Recruitment and School Relations, Student Affairs, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Athletic Compliance, and the University Registrar. In addition, she will work in tandem with Academic Support Services and Residential Life to plan and manage a strong freshman-year program and a safe living environment for all students.

TAMIU President Ray Keck said Ramirez's appointment is crucial as the university continues to experience unprecedented growth with its enrollment having surpassed 6,000 students and an incoming freshmen class, which exceeds 1,000 students.

"Since she joined the administrative staff as Executive Director for Enrollment Management in 2001, Dr. Ramirez has truly transformed the way TAMIU understands outreach, recruitment, retention and student success," Keck said, "Our continuing strong outcomes in the first two parts of Closing the Gaps, Participation and Success, are a direct result of her leadership, skillful planning and unerring knowledge of the community we serve."

Ramirez said she feels honored by the appointment.

"It is an honor and a privilege for me to serve the TAMIU community," Ramirez said, "Equally satisfying is the awesome opportunity to work alongside people that are dedicated to making this University a life-altering experience for the students of TAMIU and to be a part of the greatest change agent of Laredo's history."

Ramirez joined TAMIU in 2001.

A Laredo native, Ramirez holds her doctoral degree in educational administration from Capella University. Her master's in education administration was earned at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She received her bachelor's degree in secondary education (political science and history) from TAMIU.

Earlier this year, Ramirez was selected to join an elite network of more than 2,500 women as a member of the Leadership Texas Class of 2010. She was the only Laredoan selected for this year's Class by the Foundation for Women's Resources.

Active in community service, Ramirez served as member of the U.S. Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking Committee - Higher Education Reauthorization Act Team V in 2009. She also served as Washington Birthday Celebration Association President in 2008 and was Association member from 1997 to 2009. She has been a Society of Martha Washington member since 2007. Other organizations she has served as member include the International Good Neighbor Council, Laredo Boys and Girls Club, Laredo Commission for Women, Laredo Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Border Olympics.

For more information, please contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326-2180.

University office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Late registration continues at TAMIU

Students wishing to register late for Fall at Texas A&M International University can still do so through Aug. 27.

Late registration can be done by accessing Uconnect.tamiu.edu or at the Office of the Registrar located in the University Success Center, room 121, said Oscar Reyna, University Registrar.

Fall Semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 23, and continue through Dec. 11

For more information on TAMIU's late registration, contact the TAMIU Office of the Registrar at 326-2250 or visit offices located in University Success Center, room 121.

Registrar office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

LCC students beat the heat with cool watercolor exhibit

Caption: A painting by Laredo Community College artist Samantha Proa is shown. The creations of Rachel Ortiz, Proa, Marcos Valenzuela Jr. and Penelope Warren will be among the students whose watercolor paintings will be displayed in the second annual "Hot Summer-Cool Watercolor" exhibit. The community is invited to view the art and meet the student artists during an opening reception on Monday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m. in the Yeary Library.

During the dog days of summer, some college students sought relief from the blistering heat by expressing their thoughts and creativity with a couple of dabs and strokes in watercolor painting classes offered at Laredo Community College.

Some of that impressive student art work has been selected for display as part of the second annual "Hot Summer-Cool Watercolor" exhibit at the Yeary Library on the LCC Fort McIntosh Campus.

Students, faculty, staff and art lovers from the community are invited to attend an opening reception on Monday, Aug. 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the college library to view the art work and meet some of the student-artists. Admission is free of charge.

The watercolor paintings were made by 33 students, including art and non-art majors, who were enrolled in Watercolor 1 and 2 classes taught by Art Department chair/instructor Dale Short and instructor Mary M. Bausman.

"The displayed works are examples of each student's exploration into the medium of watercolor," Short said. "The watercolor medium is often overlooked because of oil painting's long history; however, watercolors can be extremely versatile."

Among the Watercolor 1 students whose works are featured in the exhibit are: Bambii Baker, Jasmin Cantu, Kimberly Esparza, Rebeka Garcia, Oscar Garza, Angelica Gomez, Margarita Gonzalez, Rafael D. Hinojosa II, Kimberly Jasso, Kelsey Lara, Gloria Lozano-Mares, Mikael Martinez, Ana Montoya, Rachel Ortiz, Juan Oviedo II, Denise Rodriguez, Leyda Rodriguez, Whitney Rodriguez, Raymundo I. Torres, Marcos Valenzuela Jr., Aldo Vasquez, Pedro Vazquez, Priscilla Vega, Selene Villarreal, Penelope Warren and Andrea Wieden.

Watercolor 2 students featured in the art show are Joan Harris, Nelly Wampach Hays, Gloria Lozano-Mares, Margo Paz, Stephanie Perez, Samantha Proa and Jeoffrey Westbury.

"Come see what some of the possibilities are in the wonderful medium of watercolor," Bausman said. "ARTS 2366 Watercolor can be used as a fine arts credit, and will be offered in the spring semester and summer session of 2011."

The exhibit may be viewed through Friday, Sept. 10. Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the community.

The show is sponsored by the Yeary Library and the LCC Art Department.

For more information, call the Yeary Library at 721-5280.

TAMIU continuing education offers SAT prep this fall

High school juniors and seniors preparing to take their SATs should sign up for an SAT prep course offered at Texas A&M International University.

The class meets every Saturday starting Saturday, Aug. 28, through Oct. 2. Tuition is $325 and includes a post-test and a pre-test for the exam.

"One of the benefits of these courses is that there is a small teacher to students ratio. It's also a great way to start the year and will help when filling out those college applications," advised Kimberly Martin del Campo, program coordinator, continuing education.

Students interested in taking the class should sign up at tamiu.edu/dip/SATLIV. Deadline to register is Wednesday, Aug. 25, at noon.

For more information, contact del Campo at 326-2765, kim.martindelcampo@tamiu.edu or visit offices in Anthony J. and Georgia A. Pellegrino Hall, room 302C.

University office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Register now for Fall 2010 at TAMIU

With summer activities on the brain and soothing evening breezes marking time, the start of the Fall semester seems far away, but the first day of classes is less than a month away. Classes start Monday, Aug. 23.

There have been some changes on campus. Most notable is the new University Success Center that serves one-stop shopping for current and prospective students. Also changing this fall is mandatory meningitis vaccinations for first-time students living on campus.

The new University Success Center, now open, houses the Office of Admissions, Office of the University Registrar, Office of Financial Aid, Campus Card Services, Bursar's Office, Office of Recruitment and School Relations, Student Success, Bookstore, Testing Center, University College, Advising and Mentoring Center and Student Counseling Services.

Those students who plan to live on campus need to be aware of a new state law the calls for immunization against bacterial meningitis. While the law only applies to first time students living on campus, housing and residence life encourages all students planning to live on campus to get immunized.

"Evidence of the student having received the vaccination from an appropriate health practitioner must be provided. The student must have received the vaccination at least 10 days prior to the student taking up residence in University Housing," explained Trevor C. Liddle, director of the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

The "Jaime Schanbaum Act" requires that "all first-time students attending an institution of higher education in the state of Texas, including transfer students, who plan to reside in or have applied for university housing, show evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis, allowing for medical or religious exemptions."

For more information on on-campus living, contact Liddle at 326-1300. Additional information is available at http://www.tamiu.edu/housing/bacterial-menigitis.shtml

For registration information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 326-250, e-mail registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the University Success Center, room 121.

Complete schedules, catalog and additional registration information is available at tamiu.edu

Additional registration information is available on uconnect.tamiu.edu, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Summer University office hours are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. – noon Friday. The university will revert to the regular schedule Thursday, Aug. 19.

TAMIU offers hybrid language courses in Arabic, French, Spanish

This Fall, Texas A&M International University's Department of Language and Literature will offer four hybrid language classes that can be taken either for-credit or non-credit.

• Beginning Arabic I will be offered from 7:30-8:45 p.m., Monday and Wednesday (45 class hours).

• Beginning Arabic II will be offered from 7:30-8:45 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday (45 class hours).

• Beginning French I & II, intensive format, will be offered from 6- 8:15 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday (90 class hours).

• Beginning Spanish I will be offered from 7-8:15 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday (45 class hours).

Registration fees for non-credit courses are $400 (45 class hours) or $600 (90 class hours). Current TAMIU students who wish to take these courses for credit can register at the Office of the Registrar. Those who wish to take the classes for non-credit, may contact the Department of Language and Literature. When taken for credit, these courses may be applied towards the foreign language requirement.

For more information, contact the Department of Language and Literature at 326-2470 or 326-2624, e-mail Lisa Flores, visiting assistant professor of the Department of Language and Literarure lflores@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Anthony J. and Georgia Pellgrino Hall, room 314.

Summer university office hours are 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.–noon Friday. The university will revert to the regular schedule Thursday, Aug. 19.

UISD announces times for secondary students to pick up schedules

With the start of the new school year around the corner, the United Independent School District would like to remind all parents and students entering or attending a middle or high school to note the following class schedule pick information for the 2010-2011 school year.

Students are urged to pick up their class schedule during their designated date and time and review it with their parents. Any questions or discrepancies should be cleared with the respective campus before the first day of school, Aug. 23.

High school class schedule pick-up information:

Seniors: Aug. 11 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Juniors: Aug. 11 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Sophomores: Aug. 12 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Freshmen: Aug. 13 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Middle school class schedule pick-up information:

Sixth grade: Aug. 11 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Seventh grade: Aug. 12 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Eighth grade: Aug. 13 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

STEP (School Towards Exceptional Performance) Academy:

Sixth through eighth grades: Aug. 11 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Freshmen: Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors: Aug. 12 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.



For any questions, please contact the respective campus or the District’s main line at (956) 473-6201 to be transferred to any school in UISD.

County recognizes College Democrat president

Caption: Alejandra Salinas is recognized for being selected as the first Hispanic president of the College Democrats of America by Webb County Judge Danny Valdez and members of the Commissioners Court.